'NIRVANA,' 'TRUCE' SET PACE FOR DAVID HONORS
Nominations for the heavyweight pair, both of which are strongly tipped for official selection at next month's Cannes Film Festival, include best film, director, producer and screenplay, with "Nirvana" also in the running for best actor (Sergio Rubini) and supporting actor (Diego Abatantuono).
Other contenders for best film are Leonardo Pieraccioni's comedy "The Cyclone," Roberto Faenza's period piece "Marianna Ucria" and Wilma Labate's psychological drama "My Generation."
The remaining best actor nominees are Claudio Amendola in "My Generation," Fabrizio Bentivoglio in "Witness in Danger," Pieraccioni in "The Cyclone" and Carlo Verdone in "Mad About Iris Blond."
Vying for best actress are Asia Argento in "Traveling Companion," Margherita Buy in "Witness in Danger," Iaia Forte in "Luna e l'Altra," Claudia Gerini in "Mad About Iris Blond" and Monica Guerritore in "The She-Wolf."
The nominations were announced Monday at a press conference at pubcaster RAI, which will televise the awards presentation live April 20.
Voted by a jury of 243 national film industry exponents and chosen from films released during the 1996-97 B.O. season running from September through June, the awards this year have been bumped up from June to April to allow the winning films time to capitalize on the critical endorsement before moviegoing dies down for the summer.
